1
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Olianezhad F, Jin J, Najafian S, Pons C, Mazade R, Kremkow J, Alonso JM. Binocular receptive-field construction in the primary visual cortex. Curr Biol 2024; 34:2474-2486.e5. [PMID: 38772362 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.04.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
ON and OFF thalamic afferents from the two eyes converge in the primary visual cortex to form binocular receptive fields. The receptive fields need to be diverse to sample our visual world but also similar across eyes to achieve binocular fusion. It is currently unknown how the cortex balances these competing needs between receptive-field diversity and similarity. Our results demonstrate that receptive fields in the cat visual cortex are binocularly matched with exquisite precision for retinotopy, orientation/direction preference, orientation/direction selectivity, response latency, and ON-OFF polarity/structure. Specifically, the average binocular mismatches in retinotopy and ON-OFF structure are tightly restricted to 1/20 and 1/5 of the average receptive-field size but are still large enough to generate all types of binocular disparity tuning. Based on these results, we conclude that cortical receptive fields are binocularly matched with the high precision needed to facilitate binocular fusion while allowing restricted mismatches to process visual depth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farzaneh Olianezhad
- Department of Biological and Visual Sciences, SUNY Optometry, New York, NY 10036, USA
| | - Jianzhong Jin
- Department of Biological and Visual Sciences, SUNY Optometry, New York, NY 10036, USA
| | - Sohrab Najafian
- Department of Biological and Visual Sciences, SUNY Optometry, New York, NY 10036, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Carmen Pons
- Department of Biological and Visual Sciences, SUNY Optometry, New York, NY 10036, USA; Neurological Surgery, University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Reece Mazade
- Department of Biological and Visual Sciences, SUNY Optometry, New York, NY 10036, USA; Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Jens Kremkow
- Department of Biological and Visual Sciences, SUNY Optometry, New York, NY 10036, USA; Neuroscience Research Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jose-Manuel Alonso
- Department of Biological and Visual Sciences, SUNY Optometry, New York, NY 10036, USA.
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2
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Fu J, Tanabe S, Cang J. Widespread and Multifaceted Binocular Integration in the Mouse Primary Visual Cortex. J Neurosci 2023; 43:6495-6507. [PMID: 37604691 PMCID: PMC10513071 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0925-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The brain combines two-dimensional images received from the two eyes to form a percept of three-dimensional surroundings. This process of binocular integration in the primary visual cortex (V1) serves as a useful model for studying how neural circuits generate emergent properties from multiple input signals. Here, we perform a thorough characterization of binocular integration using electrophysiological recordings in the V1 of awake adult male and female mice by systematically varying the orientation and phase disparity of monocular and binocular stimuli. We reveal widespread binocular integration in mouse V1 and demonstrate that the three commonly studied binocular properties-ocular dominance, interocular matching, and disparity selectivity-are independent of each other. For individual neurons, the responses to monocular stimulation can predict the average amplitude of binocular response but not its selectivity. Finally, the extensive and independent binocular integration of monocular inputs is seen across cortical layers in both regular-spiking and fast-spiking neurons, regardless of stimulus design. Our data indicate that the current model of simple feedforward convergence is inadequate to account for binocular integration in mouse V1, thus suggesting an indispensable role played by intracortical circuits in binocular computation.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Binocular integration is an important step of visual processing that takes place in the visual cortex. Studying the process by which V1 neurons become selective for certain binocular disparities is informative about how neural circuits integrate multiple information streams at a more general level. Here, we systematically characterize binocular integration in mice. Our data demonstrate more widespread and complex binocular integration in mouse V1 than previously reported. Binocular responses cannot be explained by a simple convergence of monocular responses, contrary to the prevailing model of binocular integration. These findings thus indicate that intracortical circuits must be involved in the exquisite computation of binocular disparity, which would endow brain circuits with the plasticity needed for binocular development and processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieming Fu
- Neuroscience Graduate Program
- Department of Biology
| | - Seiji Tanabe
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904
| | - Jianhua Cang
- Department of Biology
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904
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3
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Cang J, Fu J, Tanabe S. Neural circuits for binocular vision: Ocular dominance, interocular matching, and disparity selectivity. Front Neural Circuits 2023; 17:1084027. [PMID: 36874946 PMCID: PMC9975354 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2023.1084027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The brain creates a single visual percept of the world with inputs from two eyes. This means that downstream structures must integrate information from the two eyes coherently. Not only does the brain meet this challenge effortlessly, it also uses small differences between the two eyes' inputs, i.e., binocular disparity, to construct depth information in a perceptual process called stereopsis. Recent studies have advanced our understanding of the neural circuits underlying stereoscopic vision and its development. Here, we review these advances in the context of three binocular properties that have been most commonly studied for visual cortical neurons: ocular dominance of response magnitude, interocular matching of orientation preference, and response selectivity for binocular disparity. By focusing mostly on mouse studies, as well as recent studies using ferrets and tree shrews, we highlight unresolved controversies and significant knowledge gaps regarding the neural circuits underlying binocular vision. We note that in most ocular dominance studies, only monocular stimulations are used, which could lead to a mischaracterization of binocularity. On the other hand, much remains unknown regarding the circuit basis of interocular matching and disparity selectivity and its development. We conclude by outlining opportunities for future studies on the neural circuits and functional development of binocular integration in the early visual system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhua Cang
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States.,Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Jieming Fu
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Seiji Tanabe
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
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4
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Tohmi M, Cang J. Rapid development of motion-streak coding in the mouse visual cortex. iScience 2022; 26:105778. [PMID: 36594036 PMCID: PMC9804142 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite its importance, the development of higher visual areas (HVAs) at the cellular resolution remains largely unknown. Here, we conducted 2-photon calcium imaging of mouse HVAs lateromedial (LM) and anterolateral (AL) and V1 to observe developmental changes in visual response properties. HVA neurons showed selectivity for orientations and directions similar to V1 neurons at eye opening, which became sharper in the following weeks. Neurons in all areas over all developmental stages tended to respond selectively to dots moving along an axis perpendicular to their preferred orientation at slow speeds, suggesting a certain level of conventional motion coding already at eye opening. In contrast, at high speeds, many neurons responded to dots moving along the axis parallel to the preferred orientation in older animals but rarely after eye opening, indicating a lack of motion-streak coding in the earlier stage. Together, our results uncover the development of visual properties in HVAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manavu Tohmi
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA,Corresponding author
| | - Jianhua Cang
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA,Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
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5
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Li N, Liu Q, Zhang Y, Yang Z, Shi X, Gu Y. Cortical feedback modulates distinct critical period development in mouse visual thalamus. iScience 2022; 26:105752. [PMID: 36590174 PMCID: PMC9794980 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In primary visual cortex (V1), critical period for ocular dominance (OD) plasticity is a well-defined developmental stage to shape neuronal circuits based on visual experience. Recent studies showed that V1-like OD plasticity existed in mouse dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN). It is still unclear what the exact time window is and how neural circuits contribute to OD plasticity in dLGN. Using in vivo electrophysiology, we defined a critical period for OD plasticity in dLGN from eye opening to puberty. There also existed an innate process of OD formation from contralateral to equal bias in dLGN binocular neurons. Instant V1 inactivation with muscimol had no effect on OD bias or plasticity. Short-term V1 inactivation with N-methyl-d-aspartate reversed the formation of equal OD bias, while long-term V1 inactivation retained dLGN development to an immature stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Qiong Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Yimu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zhongyi Yang
- School of Basic Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xuefeng Shi
- Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin Eye Institute, Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300020, China
- Institute of Ophthalmology, Nankai University, Tianjin 300020, China
- Corresponding author
| | - Yu Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Corresponding author
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6
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Wang G, Liu L. Amblyopia: progress and promise of functional magnetic resonance imaging. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2022; 261:1229-1246. [PMID: 36282454 DOI: 10.1007/s00417-022-05826-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Amblyopia is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by functional deficits in the visual cortex. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is the most commonly used neuroimaging technique for investigating amblyopia. Herein, we systematically searched a PubMed database from inception to December 2021 to highlight the current progress and promises about fMRI technology in amblyopia; amblyopia's neural mechanism, the comparison of different types of amblyopia, and the evaluation of the therapeutic effect were explored. Relevant articles published in English and appropriate cross-references were considered for inclusion, including basic studies, imaging techniques, clinical diagnostic and therapeutic studies, case series, and reviews.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guiqu Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Longqian Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- Department of Optometry and Visual Science, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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7
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Najafian S, Koch E, Teh KL, Jin J, Rahimi-Nasrabadi H, Zaidi Q, Kremkow J, Alonso JM. A theory of cortical map formation in the visual brain. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2303. [PMID: 35484133 PMCID: PMC9050665 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29433-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The cerebral cortex receives multiple afferents from the thalamus that segregate by stimulus modality forming cortical maps for each sense. In vision, the primary visual cortex maps the multiple dimensions of the visual stimulus in patterns that vary across species for reasons unknown. Here we introduce a general theory of cortical map formation, which proposes that map diversity emerges from species variations in the thalamic afferent density sampling sensory space. In the theory, increasing afferent sampling density enlarges the cortical domains representing the same visual point, allowing the segregation of afferents and cortical targets by multiple stimulus dimensions. We illustrate the theory with an afferent-density model that accurately replicates the maps of different species through afferent segregation followed by thalamocortical convergence pruned by visual experience. Because thalamocortical pathways use similar mechanisms for axon segregation and pruning, the theory may extend to other sensory areas of the mammalian brain. Najafian et al. introduce a developmental theory of map formation in the cerebral cortex. The theory proposes that increases in the density of thalamic afferents sampling sensory space make cortical maps to segregate more stimulus dimensions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sohrab Najafian
- Department of Biological and Visual Sciences, SUNY College of Optometry, New York, NY, 10036, United States
| | - Erin Koch
- Department of Biological and Visual Sciences, SUNY College of Optometry, New York, NY, 10036, United States.,Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, Caltech, Pasadena, CA, 91125, United States
| | - Kai Lun Teh
- Neuroscience Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.,Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, Philippstraße 13, 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jianzhong Jin
- Department of Biological and Visual Sciences, SUNY College of Optometry, New York, NY, 10036, United States
| | - Hamed Rahimi-Nasrabadi
- Department of Biological and Visual Sciences, SUNY College of Optometry, New York, NY, 10036, United States
| | - Qasim Zaidi
- Department of Biological and Visual Sciences, SUNY College of Optometry, New York, NY, 10036, United States
| | - Jens Kremkow
- Neuroscience Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.,Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, Philippstraße 13, 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jose-Manuel Alonso
- Department of Biological and Visual Sciences, SUNY College of Optometry, New York, NY, 10036, United States.
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8
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Scholl B, Tepohl C, Ryan MA, Thomas CI, Kamasawa N, Fitzpatrick D. A binocular synaptic network supports interocular response alignment in visual cortical neurons. Neuron 2022; 110:1573-1584.e4. [PMID: 35123654 PMCID: PMC9081247 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
In visual cortex, signals from the two eyes merge to form a coherent binocular representation. Here we investigate the synaptic interactions underlying the binocular representation of stimulus orientation in ferret visual cortex with in vivo calcium imaging of layer 2/3 neurons and their dendritic spines. Individual neurons with aligned somatic responses received a mixture of monocular and binocular synaptic inputs. Surprisingly, monocular pathways alone could not account for somatic alignment because ipsilateral monocular inputs poorly matched somatic preference. Binocular inputs exhibited different degrees of interocular alignment, and those with a high degree of alignment (congruent) had greater selectivity and somatic specificity. While congruent inputs were similar to others in measures of strength, simulations show that the number of active congruent inputs predicts aligned somatic output. Our study suggests that coherent binocular responses derive from connectivity biases that support functional amplification of aligned signals within a heterogeneous binocular intracortical network.
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9
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Feedforward mechanisms of cross-orientation interactions in mouse V1. Neuron 2022; 110:297-311.e4. [PMID: 34735779 PMCID: PMC8920535 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Sensory neurons are modulated by context. For example, in mouse primary visual cortex (V1), neuronal responses to the preferred orientation are modulated by the presence of superimposed orientations ("plaids"). The effects of this modulation are diverse; some neurons are suppressed, while others have larger responses to a plaid than its components. We investigated whether this diversity could be explained by a unified circuit mechanism. We report that this masking is maintained during suppression of cortical activity, arguing against cortical mechanisms. Instead, the heterogeneity of plaid responses is explained by an interaction between stimulus geometry and orientation tuning. Highly selective neurons are uniformly suppressed by plaids, whereas the effects in weakly selective neurons depend on the spatial configuration of the stimulus, transitioning systematically between suppression and facilitation. Thus, the diverse responses emerge as a consequence of the spatial structure of feedforward inputs, with no need to invoke cortical interactions.
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10
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Chan J, Hao X, Liu Q, Cang J, Gu Y. Closing the Critical Period Is Required for the Maturation of Binocular Integration in Mouse Primary Visual Cortex. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:749265. [PMID: 34899187 PMCID: PMC8663722 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.749265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Binocular matching of orientation preference between the two eyes is a common form of binocular integration that is regarded as the basis for stereopsis. How critical period plasticity enables binocular matching under the guidance of normal visual experience has not been fully demonstrated. To investigate how critical period closure affects the binocular matching, a critical period prolonged mouse model was constructed through the administration of bumetanide, an NKCC1 transporter antagonist. Using acute in vivo extracellular recording and molecular assay, we revealed that binocular matching was transiently disrupted due to heightened plasticity after the normal critical period, together with an increase in the density of spines and synapses, and the upregulation of GluA1 expression. Diazepam (DZ)/[(R, S)-3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl) propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPP)] could reclose the extended critical period, and rescue the deficits in binocular matching. Furthermore, the extended critical period, alone, with normal visual experience is sufficient for the completion of binocular matching in amblyopic mice. Similarly, prolonging the critical period into adulthood by knocking out Nogo-66 receptor can prevent the normal maturation of binocular matching and depth perception. These results suggest that maintaining an optimal plasticity level during adolescence is most beneficial for the systemic maturation. Extending the critical period provides new clues for the maturation of binocular vision and may have critical implications for the treatment of amblyopia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangping Chan
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiangwen Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jianhua Cang
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States.,Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Yu Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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11
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Transcription factor 4 controls positioning of cortical projection neurons through regulation of cell adhesion. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:6562-6577. [PMID: 33963287 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01119-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The establishment of neural circuits depends on precise neuronal positioning in the cortex, which occurs via a tightly coordinated process of neuronal differentiation, migration, and terminal localization. Deficits in this process have been implicated in several psychiatric disorders. Here, we show that the transcription factor Tcf4 controls neuronal positioning during brain development. Tcf4-deficient neurons become mispositioned in clusters when their migration to the cortical plate is complete. We reveal that Tcf4 regulates the expression of cell adhesion molecules to control neuronal positioning. Furthermore, through in vivo extracellular electrophysiology, we show that neuronal functions are disrupted after the loss of Tcf4. TCF4 mutations are strongly associated with schizophrenia and cause Pitt-Hopkins syndrome, which is characterized by severe intellectual disability. Thus, our results not only reveal the importance of neuronal positioning in brain development but also provide new insights into the potential mechanisms underlying neurological defects linked to TCF4 mutations.
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12
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Sipe GO, Petravicz J, Rikhye RV, Garcia R, Mellios N, Sur M. Astrocyte glutamate uptake coordinates experience-dependent, eye-specific refinement in developing visual cortex. Glia 2021; 69:1723-1735. [PMID: 33675674 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The uptake of glutamate by astrocytes actively shapes synaptic transmission, however its role in the development and plasticity of neuronal circuits remains poorly understood. The astrocytic glutamate transporter, GLT1 is the predominant source of glutamate clearance in the adult mouse cortex. Here, we examined the structural and functional development of the visual cortex in GLT1 heterozygous (HET) mice using two-photon microscopy, immunohistochemistry and slice electrophysiology. We find that though eye-specific thalamic axonal segregation is intact, binocular refinement in the primary visual cortex is disrupted. Eye-specific responses to visual stimuli in GLT1 HET mice show altered binocular matching, with abnormally high responses to ipsilateral compared to contralateral eye stimulation and a greater mismatch between preferred orientation selectivity of ipsilateral and contralateral eye responses. Furthermore, we observe an increase in dendritic spine density in the basal dendrites of layer 2/3 excitatory neurons suggesting aberrant spine pruning. Monocular deprivation induces atypical ocular dominance plasticity in GLT1 HET mice, with an unusual depression of ipsilateral open eye responses; however, this change in ipsilateral responses correlates well with an upregulation of GLT1 protein following monocular deprivation. These results demonstrate that a key function of astrocytic GLT1 function during development is the experience-dependent refinement of ipsilateral eye inputs relative to contralateral eye inputs in visual cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grayson O Sipe
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Picower Institute of Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jeremy Petravicz
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Picower Institute of Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rajeev V Rikhye
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Picower Institute of Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rodrigo Garcia
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Picower Institute of Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nikolaos Mellios
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.,Autophagy Inflammation and Metabolism (AIM) Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Mriganka Sur
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Picower Institute of Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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13
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Abstract
Most binocular neurons in the mammalian visual cortex show matched selectivity for light stimuli presented through either eye. A recent study tracked the responses of individual neurons in early visual cortex over time, revealing that matched binocular selectivity develops through major rearrangements of binocular visual circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mark Hübener
- Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany.
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14
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Tan L, Tring E, Ringach DL, Zipursky SL, Trachtenberg JT. Vision Changes the Cellular Composition of Binocular Circuitry during the Critical Period. Neuron 2020; 108:735-747.e6. [PMID: 33091339 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
High acuity stereopsis emerges during an early postnatal critical period when binocular neurons in the primary visual cortex sharpen their receptive field tuning properties. We find that this sharpening is achieved by dismantling the binocular circuit present at critical period onset and building it anew. Longitudinal imaging of receptive field tuning (e.g., orientation selectivity) of thousands of neurons reveals that most binocular neurons present in layer 2/3 at critical period onset are poorly tuned and are rendered monocular. In parallel, new binocular neurons are established by conversion of well-tuned monocular neurons as they gain matched input from the other eye. These improvements in binocular tuning in layer 2/3 are not inherited from layer 4 but are driven by the experience-dependent sharpening of ipsilateral eye responses. Thus, vision builds a new and more sharply tuned binocular circuit in layer 2/3 by cellular exchange and not by refining the original circuit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liming Tan
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute
| | - Elaine Tring
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Dario L Ringach
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - S Lawrence Zipursky
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute
| | - Joshua T Trachtenberg
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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15
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Hooks BM, Chen C. Circuitry Underlying Experience-Dependent Plasticity in the Mouse Visual System. Neuron 2020; 106:21-36. [PMID: 32272065 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.01.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Since the discovery of ocular dominance plasticity, neuroscientists have understood that changes in visual experience during a discrete developmental time, the critical period, trigger robust changes in the visual cortex. State-of-the-art tools used to probe connectivity with cell-type-specific resolution have expanded the understanding of circuit changes underlying experience-dependent plasticity. Here, we review the visual circuitry of the mouse, describing projections from retina to thalamus, between thalamus and cortex, and within cortex. We discuss how visual circuit development leads to precise connectivity and identify synaptic loci, which can be altered by activity or experience. Plasticity extends to visual features beyond ocular dominance, involving subcortical and cortical regions, and connections between cortical inhibitory interneurons. Experience-dependent plasticity contributes to the alignment of networks spanning retina to thalamus to cortex. Disruption of this plasticity may underlie aberrant sensory processing in some neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan M Hooks
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, W1458 BSTWR, 203 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| | - Chinfei Chen
- Department of Neurology, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Children's Hospital, Boston, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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16
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Roy A, Osik JJ, Meschede-Krasa B, Alford WT, Leman DP, Van Hooser SD. Synaptic and intrinsic mechanisms underlying development of cortical direction selectivity. eLife 2020; 9:e58509. [PMID: 32701059 PMCID: PMC7440916 DOI: 10.7554/elife.58509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Modifications of synaptic inputs and cell-intrinsic properties both contribute to neuronal plasticity and development. To better understand these mechanisms, we undertook an intracellular analysis of the development of direction selectivity in the ferret visual cortex, which occurs rapidly over a few days after eye opening. We found strong evidence of developmental changes in linear spatiotemporal receptive fields of simple cells, implying alterations in circuit inputs. Further, this receptive field plasticity was accompanied by increases in near-spike-threshold excitability and input-output gain that resulted in dramatically increased spiking responses in the experienced state. Increases in subthreshold membrane responses induced by the receptive field plasticity and the increased input-output spiking gain were both necessary to explain the elevated firing rates in experienced ferrets. These results demonstrate that cortical direction selectivity develops through a combination of plasticity in inputs and in cell-intrinsic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arani Roy
- Department of Biology, Brandeis UniversityWalthamUnited States
- Volen Center for Complex Systems, Brandeis UniversityWalthamUnited States
| | - Jason J Osik
- Department of Biology, Brandeis UniversityWalthamUnited States
- Volen Center for Complex Systems, Brandeis UniversityWalthamUnited States
| | | | - Wesley T Alford
- Department of Biology, Brandeis UniversityWalthamUnited States
| | - Daniel P Leman
- Department of Biology, Brandeis UniversityWalthamUnited States
| | - Stephen D Van Hooser
- Department of Biology, Brandeis UniversityWalthamUnited States
- Volen Center for Complex Systems, Brandeis UniversityWalthamUnited States
- Sloan-Swartz Center for Theoretical Neurobiology Brandeis UniversityWalthamUnited States
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17
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Chang JT, Whitney D, Fitzpatrick D. Experience-Dependent Reorganization Drives Development of a Binocularly Unified Cortical Representation of Orientation. Neuron 2020; 107:338-350.e5. [PMID: 32428433 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Across sensory areas, neural microcircuits consolidate streams of information into unified representations of the external world. In the carnivore visual cortex, where eye-specific inputs first converge, it has been posited that a single, binocularly aligned modular orientation representation develops independent of sensory experience. In this study of ferret visual cortex using in vivo calcium imaging, we find evidence for a different developmental process. Early in development, contralateral, ipsilateral, or binocular stimulation each yield well-organized modular representations of orientation that display features of mature cortex. However, comparison of these representations reveals considerable misalignment that is evident at both modular and cellular scales. Experience-dependent processes drive reorganization of these three representations toward a single binocularly aligned representation resembling the early binocular representation through shifts in cellular orientation preference. Thus, while orderly modular networks of orientation preference initially arise independent of visual experience, experience is critical for the alignment of these early representations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy T Chang
- Department of Functional Architecture and Development of Cerebral Cortex, Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - David Whitney
- Department of Functional Architecture and Development of Cerebral Cortex, Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - David Fitzpatrick
- Department of Functional Architecture and Development of Cerebral Cortex, Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
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18
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Li N, Gu Y. The Visual Pathway for Binocular Integration. Neurosci Bull 2020; 36:1089-1091. [PMID: 32367252 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-020-00506-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Na Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and Ministry of Education Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yu Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and Ministry of Education Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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19
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Ribic A. Stability in the Face of Change: Lifelong Experience-Dependent Plasticity in the Sensory Cortex. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:76. [PMID: 32372915 PMCID: PMC7186337 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.00076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasticity is a fundamental property of the nervous system that enables its adaptations to the ever-changing environment. Heightened plasticity typical for developing circuits facilitates their robust experience-dependent functional maturation. This plasticity wanes during adolescence to permit the stabilization of mature brain function, but abundant evidence supports that adult circuits exhibit both transient and long-term experience-induced plasticity. Cortical plasticity has been extensively studied throughout the life span in sensory systems and the main distinction between development and adulthood arising from these studies is the concept that passive exposure to relevant information is sufficient to drive robust plasticity early in life, while higher-order attentional mechanisms are necessary to drive plastic changes in adults. Recent work in the primary visual and auditory cortices began to define the circuit mechanisms that govern these processes and enable continuous adaptation to the environment, with transient circuit disinhibition emerging as a common prerequisite for both developmental and adult plasticity. Drawing from studies in visual and auditory systems, this review article summarizes recent reports on the circuit and cellular mechanisms of experience-driven plasticity in the developing and adult brains and emphasizes the similarities and differences between them. The benefits of distinct plasticity mechanisms used at different ages are discussed in the context of sensory learning, as well as their relationship to maladaptive plasticity and neurodevelopmental brain disorders. Knowledge gaps and avenues for future work are highlighted, and these will hopefully motivate future research in these areas, particularly those about the learning of complex skills during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adema Ribic
- Department of Psychology, College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
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20
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Huh CYL, Abdelaal K, Salinas KJ, Gu D, Zeitoun J, Figueroa Velez DX, Peach JP, Fowlkes CC, Gandhi SP. Long-term Monocular Deprivation during Juvenile Critical Period Disrupts Binocular Integration in Mouse Visual Thalamus. J Neurosci 2020; 40:585-604. [PMID: 31767678 PMCID: PMC6961993 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1626-19.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Revised: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Study of the neural deficits caused by mismatched binocular vision in early childhood has predominantly focused on circuits in the primary visual cortex (V1). Recent evidence has revealed that neurons in mouse dorsolateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) can undergo rapid ocular dominance plasticity following monocular deprivation (MD). It remains unclear, however, whether the long-lasting deficits attributed to MD during the critical period originate in the thalamus. Using in vivo two-photon Ca2+ imaging of dLGN afferents in superficial layers of V1 in female and male mice, we demonstrate that 14 d MD during the critical period leads to a chronic loss of binocular dLGN inputs while sparing response strength and spatial acuity. Importantly, MD leads to profoundly mismatched visual tuning properties in remaining binocular dLGN afferents. Furthermore, MD impairs binocular modulation, reducing facilitation of responses of both binocular and monocular dLGN inputs during binocular viewing. As predicted by our findings in thalamic inputs, Ca2+ imaging from V1 neurons revealed spared spatial acuity but impaired binocularity in L4 neurons. V1 L2/3 neurons in contrast displayed deficits in both binocularity and spatial acuity. Our data demonstrate that critical-period MD produces long-lasting disruptions in binocular integration beginning in early binocular circuits in dLGN, whereas spatial acuity deficits first arise from circuits further downstream in V1. Our findings indicate that the development of normal binocular vision and spatial acuity depend upon experience-dependent refinement of distinct stages in the mammalian visual system.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Abnormal binocular vision and reduced acuity are hallmarks of amblyopia, a disorder that affects 2%-5% of the population. It is widely thought that the neural deficits underlying amblyopia begin in the circuits of primary visual cortex. Using in vivo two-photon calcium imaging of thalamocortical axons in mice, we show that depriving one eye of input during a critical period in development chronically impairs binocular integration in thalamic inputs to primary visual cortex. In contrast, visual acuity is spared in thalamic inputs. These findings shed new light on the role for developmental mechanisms in the thalamus in establishing binocular vision and may have critical implications for amblyopia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Diyue Gu
- Donald Bren School of Information & Computer Sciences
| | | | | | - John P Peach
- Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218
| | | | - Sunil P Gandhi
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior,
- Center for Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, and
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21
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Rodríguez G, Chakraborty D, Schrode KM, Saha R, Uribe I, Lauer AM, Lee HK. Cross-Modal Reinstatement of Thalamocortical Plasticity Accelerates Ocular Dominance Plasticity in Adult Mice. Cell Rep 2019; 24:3433-3440.e4. [PMID: 30257205 PMCID: PMC6233297 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.08.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Revised: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 08/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasticity of thalamocortical (TC) synapses is robust during early
development and becomes limited in the adult brain. We previously reported that
a short duration of deafening strengthens TC synapses in the primary visual
cortex (V1) of adult mice. Here, we demonstrate that deafening restores NMDA
receptor (NMDAR)-dependent long-term potentiation (LTP) of TC synapses onto
principal neurons in V1 layer 4 (L4), which is accompanied by an increase in
NMDAR function. In contrast, deafening did not recover long-term depression
(LTD) at TC synapses. Potentiation of TC synapses by deafening is absent in
parvalbumin-positive (PV+) interneurons, resulting in an increase in feedforward
excitation to inhibition (E/I) ratio. Furthermore, we found that a brief
duration of deafening adult mice recovers rapid ocular dominance plasticity
(ODP) mainly by accelerating potentiation of the open-eye responses. Our results
suggest that cross-modal sensory deprivation promotes adult cortical plasticity
by specifically recovering TC-LTP and increasing the E/I ratio. Plasticity of thalamocortical (TC) synapses is limited in adults.
Rodríguez et al. demonstrate that a brief period of deafening adults
recovers LTP at TC synapses in visual cortex and accelerates ocular dominance
plasticity. These results suggest that cross-modal sensory deprivation may be an
effective way to promote adult cortical plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Rodríguez
- Mind/Brain Institute, Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Dunning Hall, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; Cellular Molecular Developmental Biology and Biophysics Program, Johns Hopkins University, Mudd Hall, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Darpan Chakraborty
- Mind/Brain Institute, Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Dunning Hall, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Katrina M Schrode
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Center for Hearing and Balance, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Ave., Traylor Building, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Rinki Saha
- Mind/Brain Institute, Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Dunning Hall, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Isabel Uribe
- Mind/Brain Institute, Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Dunning Hall, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Amanda M Lauer
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Center for Hearing and Balance, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Ave., Traylor Building, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Hey-Kyoung Lee
- Mind/Brain Institute, Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Dunning Hall, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; Cellular Molecular Developmental Biology and Biophysics Program, Johns Hopkins University, Mudd Hall, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
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22
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Mice Discriminate Stereoscopic Surfaces Without Fixating in Depth. J Neurosci 2019; 39:8024-8037. [PMID: 31462533 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0895-19.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Revised: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Stereopsis is a ubiquitous feature of primate mammalian vision, but little is known about if and how rodents such as mice use stereoscopic vision. We used random dot stereograms to test for stereopsis in male and female mice, and they were able to discriminate near from far surfaces over a range of disparities, with diminishing performance for small and large binocular disparities. Based on two-photon measurements of disparity tuning, the range of disparities represented in the visual cortex aligns with the behavior and covers a broad range of disparities. When we examined their binocular eye movements, we found that, unlike primates, mice did not systematically vary relative eye positions or use vergence eye movements when presented with different disparities. Nonetheless, the representation of disparity tuning was wide enough to capture stereoscopic information over a range of potential vergence angles. Although mice share fundamental characteristics of stereoscopic vision with primates and carnivores, their lack of disparity-dependent vergence eye movements and wide neuronal representation suggests that they may use a distinct strategy for stereopsis.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Binocular vision allows us to derive depth information by comparing right and left eye information. We characterized binocular integration in mice because tools exist in these animals to dissect the underlying neural circuitry for binocular vision. Using random dot stereograms, we find that behavior and disparity tuning in the visual cortex share fundamental characteristics with primates, but we did not observe any evidence of disparity-dependent changes in vergence angle. We propose that mice use a distinct strategy of stereopsis compared with primates by using a broad range of disparities to encode depth over a large field of view and to compensate for nonstereoscopic changes in vergence angle that arise during natural behavior.
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23
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Cai S, Fischer QS, He Y, Zhang L, Liu H, Daw NW, Yang Y. GABAB receptor-dependent bidirectional regulation of critical period ocular dominance plasticity in cats. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0180162. [PMID: 28662175 PMCID: PMC5491141 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2017] [Accepted: 06/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Gama amino butyric acid (GABA) inhibition plays an important role in the onset and offset of the critical period for ocular dominance (OD) plasticity in the primary visual cortex. Previous studies have focused on the involvement of GABAA receptors, while the potential contribution of GABAB receptors to OD plasticity has been neglected. In this study, the GABAB receptor antagonist SCH50911 or agonist baclofen was infused into the primary visual cortex of cats concurrently with a period of monocular deprivation (MD). Using single-unit recordings we found that the OD shift induced by four days of MD during the critical period was impaired by infusion of the antagonist SCH50911, but enhanced by infusion of the agonist baclofen. In contrast, seven days of MD in adult cats did not induce any significant OD shift, even when combined with the infusion of SCH50911 or baclofen. Together, these findings indicate that an endogenous GABAB receptor-mediated inhibition contributes to juvenile, but not adult, OD plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Cai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Quentin S. Fischer
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Yu He
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Li Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Hanxiao Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Nigel W. Daw
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Yupeng Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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24
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Binocular Disparity Selectivity Weakened after Monocular Deprivation in Mouse V1. J Neurosci 2017; 37:6517-6526. [PMID: 28576937 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1193-16.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2016] [Revised: 04/23/2017] [Accepted: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Experiences during the critical period sculpt the circuitry within the neocortex, leading to changes in the functional responses of sensory neurons. Monocular deprivation (MD) during the visual critical period causes shifts in ocular preference, or dominance, toward the open eye in primary visual cortex (V1) and disrupts the normal development of acuity. In carnivores and primates, MD also disrupts the emergence of binocular disparity selectivity, a cue resulting from integrating ocular inputs. This disruption may be a result of the increase in neurons driven exclusively by the open eye that follows deprivation or a result of a mismatch in the convergence of ocular inputs. To distinguish between these possibilities, we measured the ocular dominance (OD) and disparity selectivity of neurons from male and female mouse V1 following MD. Normal mouse V1 neurons are dominated by contralateral eye input and contralateral eye deprivation shifts mouse V1 neurons toward more balanced responses between the eyes. This shift toward binocularity, as assayed by OD, decreased disparity sensitivity. MD did not alter the initial maturation of binocularity, as disparity selectivity before the MD was indistinguishable from normal mature animals. Decreased disparity tuning was most pronounced in binocular and ipsilaterally biased neurons, which are the populations that have undergone the largest shifts in OD. In concert with the decline in disparity selectivity, we observed a shift toward lower spatial frequency selectivity for the ipsilateral eye following MD. These results suggest an emergence of novel synaptic inputs during MD that disrupt the representation of disparity selectivity.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT We demonstrate that monocular deprivation during the developmental critical period impairs binocular integration in mouse primary visual cortex. This impairment occurs despite an increase in the degree to which neurons become more binocular. We further demonstrate that our deprivation did not impair the maturation of disparity selectivity. Disparity selectivity has already reached a matured level before the monocular deprivation. The loss of disparity tuning is primarily observed in neurons dominated by the open eye, suggesting a link between altered inputs and loss of disparity sensitivity. These results suggest that new inputs following deprivation may not maintain the precise spatial relationship between the two eye inputs required for disparity selectivity.
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